Container opener



Nov. 3, 1959 T. SCHNEIDER 2,910,769

CONTAINER OPENER Filed June 2, 1958 INVENTOR. 75w SCH/V000? bwl bw ATTORNEYS United Sites 1 atent CONTAINER OPENER Tony Schneider, Little Falls, N.Y., assignor of one-hair to Henry J. Gerdin, Schenectady, N51.

Application June 2, 1958, Serial No. 739,212

3 Claims. (Cl. 30-1.5)

This invention comprises improvements in a tool by means of which various forms of modern sealed containers of different sizes can be quickly opened.

The main object of the invention is to provide an irnproved form of tool of this type of simple construction, providing the fuctions of cutting the seal of plastic sealed containers, loosening the caps of screw capped sealed containers, and removing the crimp top type of cap.

Other and more detailed objects of the invention will be apparent from the embodiment thereof disclosed in the accompanying drawings and described hereinafter.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a plan View of the tool of this invention;

Figure 2 is an edge elevational view thereof as viewed from the top side of Fig. 1; and

Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the right-hand end.

The construction which provides these various functions involves simple forms, readily mass produced and easily assembled to provide a low cost tool of this type. As illustrated it basically comprises a pair of fiat plates 10 and 12 of suitable material, preferably of metal, which can hold a cutting edge. Each plate is generally rectangular in form and of similar configuration with the exception that the plate 10 has an end extension 28. A pair of parallel slots 14, longitudinally spaced, are formed in the plate 10, and within its side edge boundaries, as is clear from Fig. 1. The plate 1?. has a pair of side extensions aligned with the slots 14, in which are mounted a pair of bosses 16, which may be in the form of rivets headed at both ends. The rivets are formed so that they can be firmly locked in the extensions of the plate 12, and are provided with shanks which have a sliding fit in the slots 14.

At the center the outer side edges of the plates are formed with concavities at the edges of which are pairs of oppositely projecting tabs 22 and 24 to which are detachably secured a pair of grip pads 18 and 2t). As illustrated, these plates are mounted on the tabs by means of machine screws. The grip pads 13 and 2h extend vertically in planes at right angles to the planes of the plates 10 and 12, so as to project beyond each side thereof, as is clear from Figures 2 and 3.

At 26 are a pair of fiat springs which can be, as illustrated, in the form of spring steel wire, which encircle the shanks of the rivets 16 and have terminal right angled extensions 26 which lie in apertures in the plate 12, as is clear from Fig. l. The aligned oppositely extending ends lie against the inner face of the central tab 22, which positions the grip pad 13 and are normally under stress. As will be clear from Fig. 1, this stress has components at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the tool, so that the plates 10 and 12 are normally in a separated position limited by the inner ends of the slots 14.

The plates 10 and 12 are provided with aligned complementarily shaped notches 10 and 12 and 10 and 12.. These notches are illustrated as forming in pairs hexagonal apertures in the plates, the lefthand aperture being larger than the righthand aperture :to adapt the tool for the cutting of seals for containers of difiierent sizes. As illustrated, the appropriate sides of the plates at the outlines of these notches are ground to provide sharpened cutting edges. At the longitudinal center of the plates are another pair of complementary notches 10 and 12, which are shaped so that in combination four sharp pro jections 16 and 12 are formed. These projections are, as illustrated, symmetrically arranged about a center so as to provide aligned pairs axially and transversely of the tool.

The extension 28 provides an edge 28 substantially along the axis of the tool which is sharpened to a cutting edge. The opposite side of the extension 28 is formed by means of a notch to provide a hook 30 by means of which the crimped type of container seal can be pried loose.

At the opposite end of the tool is pivotally mounted at 34, an angular arm 32 which has a sharpened cutting edge 32 as illustrated. This arm provides a knife of general utility, but so formed as to also serve as a plastic seal cutter for containers off-size, with respect to the hex agonal cutting formations referred to above.

While the use of this tool could be obvious in view of the above description, it may be helpful to note that when the sealed end of the container such as a. bottle having a plastic sealing cap is positioned Within one of the hexagonal openings of the tool and squeezing pressure is applied to the grip pads 18 and 20, the plates 10 and 12 will slide towards each other bringing the appropriate cutting edges into cutting contact with the seal. The tool is then rotated to completely sever the seal. When the pressure on the pads is released, springs 26 will cause the plates to separate to a position limited by the closed inner ends of the slots 14.

In order to use the tool to open a screw cap it is placed over the cap so that the points 10 and 12 are aligned with it, whereupon when the grip pads are squeezed these points will bite into the cap and when the tool is turned the cap can be loosened. The slots 14 are of sufiicient length so that the tool will be useful for cutting the plastic seals and breaking screw caps loose for containers of a substantial size range.

From the above description it will be seen that by this simple structure the tool is capable of opening a wide range of containers of various sizes all by simple manipulations devoid of any special precautions. Although the invention comprises the basic combination illustrated, it will be apparent that some of its details can be modified without special skill, and it is intended, therefore, that the scope of the invention be determined by the claims rather than by the single illustrative embodiment thereof selected.

What is claimed is:

l. A sealed container opener comprising a pair of plates, means providing a sliding connection between said plates in contiguous parallel planes, juxtaposed multisided notches formed on adjacent edges of said plates providing at least one opening defined by a. pair of cutting edges, and yieldable means for normally holding said plates at one limit of sliding movement to insure maximum separation of said cutting edges.

2. in the combination of claim 1, said first mentioned means comprising overlying formations on adjacent edges of said plates and slip joint connections therein between said plates.

3. In the combination of claim 1, said first mentioned means comprising overlying formations on adjacent edges of said plates and slip joint connections therein between said plates including slots in one of said plates and guide pins anchored on the other plate and operating in said slots.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 1,058,999 Patten Apr. 15, 1913 1,119,220 Bates Dec. 1, 1914 4 Merrill Mar. 27, 1917 Mainzer Jan. 3, 1939 Mattocks Sept. 7, 1948 Krzanowski Jan. 3, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS France Mar. 19, 1919 

